India-Canada ties shaken as envoy says Khalistan threat is Canada’s responsibility, not India’s

International News: India’s envoy to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, firmly rejected Ottawa’s allegations linking Indian diplomats to murder and extortion plots. In his interview with CTV, he clarified that the Khalistani problem is not India’s burden but Canada’s domestic issue. He accused extremist groups in Canada of creating fear, undermining order, and damaging bilateral relations. Patnaik described these allegations as “preposterous and absurd,” pointing out that New Delhi is still waiting for proof.

Allegations termed baseless by India

Patnaik underlined that Canadians themselves are responsible for this crisis since the groups causing unrest are Canadian citizens. He criticized the Canadian government for shifting the blame toward India instead of tackling the domestic menace. Expressing concern, the envoy said it was strange for a diplomat to require security protection in a developed country like Canada, showing how grave the threat from Khalistani elements has become.

Security dialogue under cautious progress

The envoy revealed that both nations have been holding talks focusing on law and order issues and mutual safety. He insisted that India has never conducted extraterritorial actions and never will. This, he said, should reassure Sikh Canadians who fear attacks. Patnaik noted that rebuilding trust through security cooperation is essential if India and Canada wish to move past the current deadlock.

Trudeau’s past defense of policy

In 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had defended Canada’s handling of Khalistani groups, dismissing India’s criticism. He stressed that his government takes violence and threats seriously and acts against terrorism. Despite these assurances, India has consistently denied Canada’s accusations linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling them baseless and politically motivated.

Relations hit by expulsions

Diplomatic tensions worsened when Ottawa accused Indian diplomats of secret criminal activities earlier this year. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, prompting New Delhi to retaliate by expelling an equal number of Canadians. The hostility stalled dialogue, but recent meetings have sought to slowly restore cooperation. Both nations acknowledge the need to resume security dialogue to stabilize relations.

Canadian ministers remain guarded

Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree refrained from answering whether the return of Indian diplomats could endanger security. He promised that Ottawa would protect Canadians while also maintaining bilateral trust. He highlighted Canada’s decision to declare the Bishnoi Gang, a transnational Indian crime group, as a terrorist entity, stressing Ottawa’s seriousness on security matters.

Fragile trust and uncertain path ahead

Although Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss trade and security, Sikh organizations accused Ottawa of using safety concerns as a bargaining chip. Trust remains weak, and mistrust overshadows cooperation. For now, India maintains that it has never engaged in unlawful activities abroad, while urging Canada to confront its own extremists instead of blaming New Delhi